Self-Launched Dalmatian Island Hopper: Split to Split
8 days · Croatia (Dalmatian Coast)
Koda Sail charges £1,240
No-markup version: ~£735 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
An independent, self-launched version of Koda Sail's 8-day Split-to-Split sailing week, rebuilt using Croatia's public ferries, catamarans and buses instead of a chartered 20-34 person boat. You'll hit the same highlights — Bol and Zlatni Rat on Brač, Hvar's fortress and old square, Mljet National Park, Dubrovnik's walls, Korčula Old Town, Makarska and Diocletian's Palace — while staying in hostels and guesthouses and booking day trips (wine tasting, kayaking, rafting, zip-lining) directly or via GetYourGuide/Klook. The rhythm is slower and more flexible than the group cruise: you'll travel island-to-island on scheduled ferries, treat Dubrovnik and Korčula as bases, and self-cater or eat at konobas rather than relying on an onboard chef. Expect roughly a third of the guided cruise price, but you'll need to book summer ferries and Dubrovnik beds well ahead — July/August prices and crowds spike sharply.
Day-by-day
Split to Brač: Bol and Zlatni Rat
Split → Bol, Brač
Start where Koda Sail does — at Split's port (the ferry terminal is a 5-minute walk from Caffe Bar MX). Take the morning catamaran to Bol on Brač (Jadrolinija/Krilo line, roughly 1 hour, ~£8-10 one way; book online a few days ahead in summer). Drop bags at a hostel or soba (private room) in Bol, then swim off Zlatni Rat (Golden Horn) — the pebble spit shifts shape with the wind. Wander Bol's harbour, browse the small morning market, and eat grilled fish at a konoba. If you want the boat-day feeling, join a half-day small-group boat trip to the nearby Pakleni-style coves from Bol harbour (~£25 via GetYourGuide) — it replaces the cruise swim stops.
🚌Catamaran Split → Bol, ~1h, ~£8-10 one way
🛏Hostel or private soba room in Bol (approx. £20-28)
- →Morning catamaran Split to Bol
- →Swim and sunbathe at Zlatni Rat beach
- →Bol harbour and local market stroll
- →Optional half-day small-group boat trip from Bol (~£25)
Hvar: fortress, old square and wine
Bol → Hvar Town
Catch the morning catamaran Bol → Hvar Town (via Jelsa/Split connections depending on timetable, roughly 1.5-2.5h, ~£12-15). Check into a hostel in Hvar Town or cheaper Stari Grad and take the bus or a 20-minute walk up to Hvar Fortress (entry ~£8) for the classic view over the Pakleni Islands. Wander St Stephen's Square and the old town, then book a small-group wine tasting in the Hvar/Stari Grad fields — the island's Plavac Mali and Bogdanuša wines — via GetYourGuide or directly with a local cellar (~£30-40 including transport). Evening: swim, dinner at a konoba off the main square, and if you want the Carpe Diem scene, the club boats run from the harbour.
🚌Catamaran Bol → Hvar (~£12-15); local bus/walk in town
🛏Hostel dorm in Hvar Town or Stari Grad (approx. £25-35 in summer)
- →Hvar Fortress viewpoint (~£8 entry)
- →Old Town and St Stephen's Square orientation
- →Small-group wine tasting (~£30-40)
- →Optional Carpe Diem club nightlife
Pelješac and Mljet National Park
Hvar → Mljet (Pomena)
Long travel day mimicking the cruise's peninsula-to-island hop. Take the morning catamaran Hvar → Korčula or Hvar → Split then onward to Dubrovnik, and connect by bus or ferry to Pelješac — the easiest self-launched route is Hvar → Korčula (catamaran, ~1h, ~£10), then Korčula → Pomena on Mljet by catamaran (~40 min, ~£8). On Pelješac, if you route via Orebic/Trpanj, hop off for a swim at a pebble bay and a glass of Dingač at a roadside cellar. Arrive Pomena, buy the Mljet National Park ticket (~£20-25, covers the lakes and the boat to St Mary's Isle), and overnight in the village. Rent a bike if you want the full loop the next morning.
🚌Catamaran Hvar → Korčula (~£10), Korčula → Pomena (~£8); short swim stop en route
🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Pomena, Mljet (approx. £25-32)
- →Island hop via Korčula and Pelješac views
- →Swim stop at a Dalmatian bay
- →Buy Mljet National Park ticket (~£20-25)
- →Evening at Pomena harbour
Mljet salt lakes, monastery, then Dubrovnik
Mljet → Dubrovnik
Rent a bike (~£12/day) or join a canoe rental (~£15) and ride the path around Veliko and Malo Jezero, then take the park's shuttle boat to St Mary's Isle (Sveta Marija) to see the 12th-century Benedictine monastery and church — this is the self-bookable equivalent of the cruise's included monastery visit. After lunch, take the afternoon catamaran from Pomena to Dubrovnik (~1h 15m, ~£14-16), check into a hostel in the Old Town or Lapad, and do a golden-hour lap of the Old Town. Pre-book a Game of Thrones or history walking tour for the morning if that's your thing (~£15-20).
🚌Bike hire on Mljet (~£12); catamaran Pomena → Dubrovnik (~£14-16)
🛏Hostel dorm in Dubrovnik Old Town or Lapad (approx. £30-40)
- →Mljet National Park lakes by bike or canoe
- →Boat to St Mary's Isle monastery
- →Evening walk through Dubrovnik Old Town
- →Optional GoT/history walking tour (~£15-20)
Dubrovnik: city walls, Srđ cable car and kayaking
Dubrovnik
Buy the Dubrovnik Walls ticket (~£30 in high season) and walk the full 2km circuit early — before 9am it's cooler and quieter. Then do a small-group Old Town walking tour (~£18 via GetYourGuide) or self-guide with an audio app. Afternoon: either the Srđ cable car (~£22 return) for the panoramic view, or a guided sea kayak around the city walls (~£30-35) — the kayak is the better value and mirrors the cruise's cliff and wall views from the water. Finish with seafood at a konoba in the old harbour and a bar on the rocks at Buža.
🚌Walkable; local bus for Lapad/Gruž (~£2 per ride)
🛏Hostel dorm in Dubrovnik (approx. £30-40)
- →Dubrovnik city walls walk (~£30)
- →Old Town walking tour (~£18)
- →Sea kayaking around the walls (~£30-35) or Srđ cable car (~£22)
- →Buža cliff bar and old harbour dinner
Korčula: Lumbarda, Old Town and a fort sunset
Dubrovnik → Korčula
Take the direct catamaran Dubrovnik → Korčula (about 2h, ~£15-18; alternatively bus to Orebic then the 15-minute ferry, ~£10 total). Check in at a guesthouse in Korčula Old Town. Head to Lumbarda for a swim and lunch — this replaces the cruise's Lumbarda Bay lunch stop, and you can taste Grk white wine at a family cellar (~£10). Back in town, do a self-guided loop of the medieval grid, the Marco Polo house and St Mark's Cathedral. For the fort dinner, book sunset cocktails at Massimo (the tower bar) or a table on the ramparts — reserve days ahead in summer.
🚌Catamaran Dubrovnik → Korčula (~£15-18) or bus + ferry (~£10)
🛏Guesthouse or hostel room in Korčula Old Town (approx. £28-35)
- →Swim and lunch at Lumbarda Bay
- →Grk wine tasting at a family cellar (~£10)
- →Self-guided Korčula Old Town walk
- →Sunset cocktails at Massimo tower bar
Makarska, Cetina rafting and back to Split
Korčula → Makarska → Split
Ferry or catamaran Korčula → Drvenik/Split first thing (Korčula → Split catamaran ~2h 20m, ~£16-18), then local bus to Makarska if you want the old-town market stop and a last beach hour on the Riviera. Adventurous option: book a Cetina River rafting trip from Omiš (~£35-40 via GetYourGuide, includes gear and guide) and get dropped at Split afterwards — it stands in for the cruise's optional rafting and zip-line. Evening in Split: walk Diocletian's Palace with a free-tour guide (tip ~£10) or on your own, then a final dinner of peka or buzara in the old town.
🚌Catamaran Korčula → Split (~£16-18); local bus to Makarska (~£4); transfer from Omiš included in rafting trip
🛏Hostel in Split Old Town or Bačvice (approx. £25-32)
- →Makarska old town and boardwalk market
- →Cetina River rafting from Omiš (~£35-40)
- →Free walking tour of Split / Diocletian's Palace (tip ~£10)
- →Final dinner in Split
Departure from Split
Split
Last morning: coffee on the Riva, a swim at Bačvice beach if your flight is late, and a browse of the Green Market for olive oil and figs to take home. Buses run to Split airport (line 37, ~£4, 30 min) or a taxi is ~£25-30. If you want the boat send-off feel, book a cheap half-day Blue Lagoon boat trip from Split harbour (~£30) provided you have a late flight.
🚌Local bus to Split airport (~£4) or taxi (~£25-30)
🛏None (departure day)
- →Coffee on the Riva promenade
- →Bačvice beach swim (time permitting)
- →Green Market food shopping
- →Optional Blue Lagoon half-day boat trip (~£30)
Self-launched vs. Koda Sail
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Koda Sail | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£735 | £1,240 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £505 per person (41%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Koda Sail-style trips? Check them out here.~£735
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Dalmatian Island Hopper: Split to Split cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £735 per person for 8 days in Croatia (Dalmatian Coast). This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Koda Sail?+
Yes — Koda Sail charges around £1,240 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £735 — a saving of roughly £505 (41%) per person.
How long is the Croatia (Dalmatian Coast) trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Croatia (Dalmatian Coast).
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a beaches, backpacker, adventure trip through Croatia (Dalmatian Coast), self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.